The reflector. (Milledgeville, Ga.) 1817-1819, December 23, 1817, Image 1
VOL. I.
NO. 7.
THE REFLECTOR.
AGRICULTURE.
GEORGIA SUGAR.
We to-day republish an article on the cul-
vation of sugar in Georgia* for the purpose
f attaching to it an article from the St. Chris-
opher’s Gazette, from which it appeal’s that
he planters in the West Indies are not a lit-
'e alarmed at the prospect of sugar being ex-
ensivcly cultivated in the United States.—
The disproportionate number of hands em
ployed in the West indies, and the great
quantity of land there cultivated to produce
the same weight of sugar are facts which con
clusively shew the advantages our planters
hare over those in the islands.—Dent. Press.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman in
Georgia, to a member of Congress—•< The.
cultivation of the cane is rapidly extended
with us. 1 have received some information
on this interesting subject, which* I presame,
may be gratifying to you.
*. Major Butler, on 85 acres, cultivated by
17 hands, produced 140,000 lbs, sugar and 74
hhds. molasses. John M'Queen, esq. plant
ed 18 acres in cane—average product 20,00c
canes per acre—5000 canes, the product of a
quarter of an acre, yielded 600 gallons of
'uir«, which, boiled down, made 672 lbs. so
ar, and may lose 50 pounds in draining,
caving 622 lbs. or 2488 lbs. of sugar per
re.” Let us look at these products, and
ee what they amount to, at the present pri
ces for sogar and molasses :
140,000 lbs. sugar (worth on the
spot) 17 cents 823,800
75 hhds. midasses, at 8 0 6,000
product of 85 acres A 17 hands, 829,800
38 acres, at 2488 lbs. per acre,
44,781 lbs. at 17 cents 87,612 77
Say 23 hhds molasses, at 890 1,840
Productof 18 arrcsic5or6 hands, 89,452 77
839, 252 the product of 23 hands are, for earh
hand, 81706. There is no gold mine equal
to this.
But sugar and molasses may not hold their
present prices ; the duties will be reduced,
and the cost of freight and charges lessened
by the continuance of pearo. Good sugar,
however, cannot easily be lower in the United
States than 10 cents, the (old) duty included,
and it is believed the West India planter can-
*ot profitably furnish it here at so low a rate.
And in the product of these crops, raised on
103 acres, by 23 hands (allowing the sugar at
10 rents per p >und, and the molasses at 40
dollars per hhd.) would be 22,407 dollars, or
*12 dollars per acre, and 961 per hand.—
When we get to exporting sogar—when il
becomes a staple article of our commerce,
like cotton, its value may depreciate equal to
the duty, that will probablcbc continued up >n
it (2 1-2 cents per pound.) but still it will be
most profitable crop. Thus the bounties
of God to our country unfold themselves, and
point to independence.
*0 TO* XMTOR OI THR IT. CURIITOMRR’i ADVERTISER*
Sir,—Upon reading in an American pa
per the above statement of facts, and the re
flections upon them, I have been led to con
sidcr how they may affect us, and what mea
sures wc ought in duty to ourselves to adopt
to counteract tho effect.tho raising of sugar
in the United States and elsewhere may have
upon us. First, as to the quantity raised
per arre j I find the Georgian account stands
considerably higher than an average of nui
crops. 1 have not perhaps the most accurate
data to direct me as regards ourselves, but
uch as it is, and taking the Georgia state
ment to be correct, the comparison would
run thus:
This island by the Almanac, A. R. P.
is said to contain 43,727 0 3
As this is, I presume, the to
tal surface, let us deduct
*-4ths for non-arable, and
1-4 for arable not ih crop, 32,795 1 2
And there will remain in canes
for one crop, 10,931 3 1
The average productof tho
last 5 yenrs appears from
the same source to be (ta-
king2trs.or8bls.to a hlid.) 7,719 hhds.
Adding to this, for the con
sumption of the island, 300
It would be, 8,019 hhds.
of, say, 1000 lbs. each, or 14,434,200 lbs.
or 1320 1-2 lbs. per acre.
By the Georgian account in the first case
e have 1647 lbs. per acre, and in the other
488 or an average of 2063 lbs. per acre.—
^ext as to the number of hands; in the Geor-
lan statement we have 193 acres cultivated
23 hands, and they raise 9247 lbs. each,
ere an estate, which would plant 123 acres,
ould, I presume, to be well handed, have
0 negroes,youngand old, which may aii,ex-
pt infants and the very aged, be said to
ntribute less or more to the cultivation of
e cane ; but deducting 100 for infants, ntir-
and other ineffective hands, we have for
e remaining 150,906 lbs. each. A vast
^proportion this, both in the products and
= mTi
LLEDGEVILLE, G. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1817.
number of hands ; and cannot fail to affect
the West-India planter considerably,—for,
admitting that the Georgians are only able
to supply the United States, it will must ma
terially influence the price of our sugar ; ami
as they look forward to it) if they export
they can bring their’s into market, and con
siderably lower than wc can bring our’s ; for
besides their greater produce pr. acre, (which
it may be said will fall off, though I do nut
think it will, or at leust so much as our crops
have,) their’s cannot cost them near su much
expense in cultivation, as they raise all the
food, and I believe most of the clothing ne
cessary, and they do nut require near su ma
ny hands. Sugar is also cultivated to a con
siderable extent in the East-Indies, and pos
sibly will soon be in Africa. From all
these considerations, therefore, I think it be
comes our duty, as it evidently will bo our
interest, to consider and adopt those mea
sures by.whicli we may increase the produce
>f our lands, and cultivate them with less ex
pense and ler.s manual labor ; all which ap
pear to me to be practicable in some degree ;
though local circumstances may prevent our
attaining them in an equal proportion with
the Georgians. A society for that purpose
throughout the Islands, upon one general
plan, having a branch in each island, and
communicating regularly with each other,
which would entourage rational experi
ments, similar to the sociaty for the improve
ment of agriculture, in the mother-country,
would perhaps be the most effectual way to
accomplish the first of those great and impor
tant objects, anti to contribute to the second,
1 presume Indian corn, sufficient to feed tb<
negroes, may if judiciously managed, be rais
ed on each estate, without reducing the sugar
crops, hut rather the contrary, by which
means they may always have a fresli meal.
The improvement of those machines and in
struments now in use, and the adoption of such
others as are applicable, would contribute to
the last; for I believe it will not be contend
ed that we are arrived at perfection in either
—surely 103 acres could not be cultivated by
23 hands with the hoe. The principal ob
jection to such a society would he the non-
residence of the proprietors in the country ;
hut to this I would only say, few as they are,
they might do a great deal if they would
jointly consider the matter seriously, and to
set about it heartily ; for surely something
seems to be wanting to meet the recent cir
cumstances and appearances.
Not pretending to any depth of erudition,
I have ventured these remarks for their con
sideration, not for the critic’s lash, as I con
ceive it the duty t>f every one, who wishes
the good of the community lie lives in, to con
tribute his mite, however small, to that end.
to which, if mine in the least conduces, 1
shall be fully recompensed and highly grati
fied, and I hope, some alder hand will bo in
duced to take the subject. I am, air,
A WELL-WISHER TO THU PUBLIC.
TOH)GK APIUCAL.
RED-RIVER COUNTRY.
JVutchitoches, (Lou.) May 21 it, 1817.
Dear Sir,—Under cover of a letter which
I received two days since from my brother
George, (who lives about 300 miles above St.
Louis, on the Missouri,) I received your let
ter of 23d September last. I assure you It
gave me pleasure to hear from one from whom
i once received many marks of friendship ;
and although many years have gone by since,
the recollection is still fresh in my memory
of numberless instances of kindness shewn
me by you.
Next December will close the sixth year
since my removal to this country ; my family
at present consists ofa wife and a pair of boys
&. girls. The object of your letter being to re
quest information of this part of the country ;
I will give you as far as my knowledge of
it extends, every thing in my power, as well
ns my own opinion respecting it. The coun
try on the Red river for about 600 miles from
its mouth is all flat and very much cut up
with lakes artd lagoons. The cultivatable
land is confined entirely to the banks of the
river; notextending back more than from
15 to 25 acres, when it either overflows at
every rise of the river, or is always a lake.
The soil is perhaps not inferior to any, and
some peculiarly adapted to the growth of cot
ton and tobacco ; though the quantity of the
former picked from an acre does not exceed
what is produced in other states, it is the
quality which gives it a decided preference in
every market where it is known. The same
may be said of tobacco ; for cigars it is con
sidered by judges, to be very little inferior to
Havanna ; and woilJd, I am of opinion, be as
profitable a crop as cotton, were the cultiva
tion and management of it as well understood
in this country. Nothing has been attempt
ed here (except by way of experiment)*in
small grain. Wheat does pretty well, but is
subject to rust generally, I am told. Sevcra
planters have made small crops of the sugal
cane for 2 or 3 years past; last year tberr
was made perhaps by all of them, 50 or 6e
hhds. of sugar, af a quality such as you most)
commonly get at Fayetteville ; but I think
it donbtful whether it will not be found too
precarious a crop to embark in extensively,
owing to the uncertainty of the seasons about
the time of the cane ripening; as a frost 8 or
10 days earlier than usual destroys it. Fruit
of every kind almost, succeeds well here, ex
cept apples and cherries. Peaches are very
fine.—So much for the soil and productions.
The navigation of Red river is remarka
ble. Tnere is perhaps no river in America
or Europe of the same length which is navi
gable so great a distance-; say 1000 miles
from its mouth. The principal trade of this
place has been confined for the last two or
three years to furs and peltries, which has-
been very profitable* and has enticed several
merchants from New-York, with capitals a-
mounting to 20 or 30 thousand dollars, to set
tle themselves in this place. The Spanish
trade from the adjoining provinces wiil pro
bably revive again in the event ofoUr govern
ment coming to the determination to take
possession of the country at present occupied
by the Spaniards ; and from present ap
pearances we think that will he done* unless
the Spanish government change their senti
ment from what they were a few months ago,
as communicated to Mr. Monroe by their
minister Don D’Onis. We are here certain
that this is the intention of our government
from the circumstance of two companies of
rifle men arriving here a few weeks ago, with
everything prepared fur a campaign, and
from expressions which have dropped from
the commanding officer. Should this be the
case, it will open a new world to emigrants,
abounding from report with every thing that
is desirable. As to the healthiness.of this
country, I believe it to be aflout as healthy as
Fayetteville, except in some situations near
a lake. There is very little winter, nut
iniAe than 2 1-2 or 3 months—December,
January, and part ofFebruary. Cat'.’e and
hogs live in the woods very well generally
near the year round. My having lived in
Wilmington, (N. C.) for 8 or 9 years before
coming here, a climate more unhealthy than
this, is the cause I presume of my having en
joyed my health extremely well. With re
spect to the society here, I wish I could say
as much in its favor as might be said of every
thing else. The American society is as yet
very small, not exceeding 7 or 8 families ;
and some of those being part French and * 1 in
fluenced by them, reduces the real American
society to very few. From this cause we have
not been able to establish any achnhla, or any
thing like a church, nor in fact do one half
of the small number of Americans here seem
to care a straw about any such things ; and
those that do are so few in number, that the
expense would be entirely too heavy for them.
The distance from this place to New-Orleans
by water, is called 450 or 500 miles. Boats
carrying from 2 to 3 hundred barrels, go
down generally in 10 days, but take 25 to
come up ; freight is very high, 4 1-2 to 5 dol
lars per barrel up, and one dollar down.
The Indians in this quarter are, and have
been ever since the cession of Louisiana, very
peaceable & friendly. There have been white
men murdered by them in the Indian country,
hut they have been men who escaped from
the gallows in their own country, and were
killed in attempting to steal Indian horses or
some of their property. There are very con
siderable settlements making on this river 3
or 4 hundred miles above this place ; I am
informed thata great numberof families from
Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina have
removed there during the last winter. The
country is represented to be in many respects
preferable to this part of Louisiana. It is said
to be better in point of soil, health* water and
for stock. The want of good springs in this
quarter of the state is a very great objection
to emigrants from those states where they
have been accustomed to fine cool spring wa
ter. The planters on the river who are not
»at the trouble to catch rain water, drink from
the rivex-, which at high water contains about
the 1-8 th tif ati inch of red mud in a pint, and
in low water, as much salt and alum.
• Having I believe, gone, through and repli
ed to the different queries in your letter, I will
for your further satisfaction give you my o-
pinion generally of this country, supposing
you were inclined to remove to it. To me it
would be rather a delicate & irksome task to
describe this country to one who I thought
would, upon the strength of my information,
remove to it; because it rarely happens that
two men think alike as to the beauties, &c. of
any country ; and it would give me inucb
cause of regret, were you to take my word
or my opinion, and should afterwards view
every thing in quite a different light from my
representation. This country (or the part
of it however, with which I am acquainted)
is well situated to a man whose principal ob
ject as a farmer, is to make a fortune by cul
tivating cotton ; and who iB willing to forego
every enjoyment (health excepted) other
countries afford. A man who can purchase
2 or 3 hundred acres of land, put on it a gang
of slaves, sit down with them himself, and
care not whether he «ee« any person who can
speak English year in and year out; and cul
tivate cotton, may, at the present price of cot
ton, make money very Vapidly, F'ivc and a
half years I have been in this country I con
sider as so much time lost nearly. The coun
try in short wants every tiling but a fine cli
mate to make a residence in it bearly tolera
ble. You will naturally ask why I hare re-
niained in it so long ? and dislike it so mueh l
It is because I have been in hopes of a chaiigo
for the better particularly in the society ; but
I have now come to tlm determination to re
move to the Missouri territory as soon as
possible. I can wait no longer, although I
still think there will be in 8 or l6 years, a
great change for the better. I should be hap
py to hear lrom you at any time when you
may find it convenient to write. My brother
George has, lie tells me, written you. f'ronx
his description of the Missouri country I ain
rhore pleased with it than any I have heard of
or seen.
The situation of this country is at present
the same as respects provisions with yours.
The crops failed last year. Com is now 8 2
per bushel, and scarcely any to be bought.
Flour 818 a 20 per barrel; bacon 18 a 20 cts.
per lb. In ordinary times corn is about 45 a
50 cents per bush. Popk 5 a 6 cts. and flour
SiO a 12. For the latter article you will not
consider it high, when you are informed that
every barrel thatisconsumcd here is brought
from Kentucky or Tennessee, there being no
mills in this country and very few situations
for building them ; though this state of tilings
would be very much changed—was there a
change of population, say Americans in place
of the French ; which I think will be the case
before a great many years.
You may perhaps think I have drawn too
gloomy a picture of the Red River country ;
and ascribe its dark coloring to prejudice;
but I have been as much as possible on my
guard to prevent any prejudices getting tho
better of me. 1 discover l have scrawled
over two sheets, which will 1 think suffice and
more than suffice for oncej nnd will bid yon
adieu. Your friend, &c.
SAMUEL II. SIBLEY.
Mr. James G. Mask.
■■■■■■* JB
CONGHE8S.
MEMBERS OF THE 15TH CONGRESS.
senate.
New-Hampshire, D. L. Morril, J. Storer.
Massachusetts, H. G. Otis, E. P. Ashman.
Rhode-Island, W. Hunter, J. Burrell, jun.
Connecticut, D. Dagget, Satn'l W. Dana,
Vermont, Isaac Tichuor* James F'isk.
New-York, Rufus King, Nath. Stanford.
New-Jereey, J. J. Wilson, M. Dickerson.
Pennsylvania, Abner Lacock, J. Robert^
Delaware, O. Horsey. Nicholas Van Dyke.
Maryland, R. H.Goldsborougli, A C Hansoft
Virginia, Jas. Barbour, Jolm W. Eppes.
North-Carolina, N. Macon, M. Stokes.
South-Carolina, John Gaill'ard, W. Smith.
Georgia, Charles Tate, George M. Troup*
Kentucky, J. J. Crittenden, Isliam Talbot.
Tennessee, J. Williams, G. \V. Campbell.
Ohio, Jere. Marrow, Benjamin lliigglcs.
Louisiana, E.Fromentin.W, C. Claiborne,
Mississippi, T. S. Williams, W. Leake.
Indiana, James Noble, Walter Taylor.
HOC SB OF REPRESENTATIVES.
New-Hampshire, J. Butler, C. Clagett, S*
Hale, A. Livermore, J.T. Parrot,Nr Uphain.
Massachusetts, J. Nelson, W. P’olger, jun*
B. Adams, J, Wilson, N. Silsbee, S. Strong,
J. Holmes, J. Gage, T. Fuller, M. Morton,
ii. i?aaw, E. Whitman, S. C. Allen, A. K.
Parris, N. Ruggles, E. II. Mills, Z. Samp
son, B. Orr, J, Mason, (one vacant.)
Rhode-lsland, J. L. Boss, J. B. Mason.
Connecticut, N. Terry, C. Dennison, U.
Holincs, J. O. Moseley, T, Pitkin, S. B.
Sherwood, T; S. Williams.
Vermont, It. Allen, S. Crafts, W. Hunter,
O. C. Merrill, C. Rich, M. Richards.
New-York, O. C. Colmstork, I). Cruger,
J. P. Cushman, J. R. Drake, B. Ellirott, J.
Hasbrouck, J. Herkimer, T. H. Hubbard,
W. Irving, H. Kir Hand, T. Layer, D. A.
Ogden, J. Parmer, J. Porter, J. Savage, P. J.
Schuyler, 1'. Scudder, J. C. Spencer, II. It.
Stores, J. Tallmadgc, J. W. Taylor, Cb.
Tompkins, G. Townsend, P. H. Wendover,
R. Wcsttrlo, J. W. Wilkin, I. Williams.
New-Jereey, E. Bateman, B. Bennct, J.
Bloomfield, C. Kinsey, j. Linn, II. South
ward.
Pennsylvania, W. Anderson, II. Baldwin,
V. Bodcn, L Darlington, J. Heister, J. Hop-.
kinson, S. D. Ingham, W, Mai lay, VV. P.
Maclay, D. Marrhand, K. Moore, A. Ogle,
T. Patterson, L. Pawling, J. Ross, J. Ser
geant, A. Seybert, J.Spangler, C.Tarr, J.M*
Wallace, J.Whiteside, W.Wilson, (I vacant.)
Delaware, W. Hall, L. M. Lane.
Maryland, T. Bayley, T. Culbreth, J. C.
Herbert, P.Little, G.Peter, P.Recd, S.Ring-
gold, S. Smith, P. Stuart.
Virginia, A. Austin, W. L. Ball, P. P.
Barbour, B.Bassett, W. A. Burwell, E. Col
ston, J. Floyd, R. S. Garnett, P. Goodwyn,
J. Johnson, W. J. Lewis, W. M*Coy, C. F*
Mercer, H, Nelson, T.M.Neison, T.Nswtoitj